Uganda Mother Attacked For Faith In Christ
A mother of seven children in eastern Uganda has reportedly suffered severe wounds after her husband and other Muslim relatives attacked her on Easter Sunday for putting her faith in Christ.
Faith
Somaliland Christians Face Jail After Leaving Islam
Authorities in Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland seek long prison terms for at least six people who converted from Islam to Christianity, Worthy News established Thursday.
India persecution: Gujarat passes anti-conversion law
Gujarat has become the latest Indian state to pass anti-conversion legislation which primarily targets Christians and Muslims accused of forcing poor Hindus to convert to their respective faiths, International Christian Concern reports. Gujarat is currently led by the Hindu nationalist party Bharathiya Janatha Party (BJP), which is also India’s governing power.
Federal Court: University in Michigan violated rights of Christian student group
A federal court ruled Monday that Michigan’s Wayne State University (WSU) officials violated the constitutional rights of the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship student club in 2017: the officials revoked InterVarsity’s registered status saying it was “discriminatory” for the group to require its leaders to be Christian. The lawsuit was filed against the university’s board of governors, board members, and administrators.
California megachurch continues legal fight against COVID-19 restrictions
John McArthur’s Grace Community Church in Los Angeles County, California filed new documents Friday in an ongoing legal fight over the freedom to hold indoor services amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Just the News reports.
LGBT coalition files class action to end discrimination in federal-funded religious institutions
Thirty-three current and former LGBT students of federal-funded religious colleges have filed a class action suit asking an Oregon District Court to rule that the religious exemption to Title IX as applied to ‘sexual and gender minority students is unconstitutional. Title IX is a federal civil rights law that protects students in federal-funded education programs from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Algerian Christian becomes suicidal following persecution and imprisonment
Algerian Christian Slimane Bouhafs has struggled with suicidal thoughts after being imprisoned for violating Algeria’s blasphemy laws and then being further persecuted for his faith upon seeking refuge in Tunisia, Morning Star News reports. Algeria ranked 24th and Tunisia ranked 26th on the Open Doors’ 2021 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.
Biden launches influencer coalition to boost COVID vaccinations
Seeking to overcome vaccine hesitancy, the Biden administration on Thursday stepped up its outreach efforts to skeptical Americans, launching a coalition of community, religious and celebrity partners to promote COVID-19 shots in hard-hit communities.
‘Abducted Christian Schoolgirl Has Second Child In Nigeria’
An abducted Christian schoolgirl, who refused to convert to Islam, has given birth to a second child while held captive by Islamist militants, several sources confirmed.
SCOTUS declines to hear appeal from Chicago church
The US Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from a Chicago church that says it continues to face the threat of COVID-19 related closure, the Christian Post reports. The state of Illinois argued the case filed by Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church is moot because pandemic-related restrictions ordered by Gov. J.B. Pritzker have been eased and churches can now gather again.
Christian suffer persecution through harsh laws in North African countries
Religious minorities in Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco suffer persecution through the application of “harsh and disproportionate” laws, International Christian Concern reports.
Abraham Accords may benefit Christians in Middle East
The 2020 Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and the Muslim countries of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, may benefit not only Jewish communities in traditionally hostile Middle Eastern nations, but also other faith minorities in the region, including Christians, International Christian Concern reports.
Christian Refugees Among Those Suffering As Bangladesh Camp Fire Kills 15
Persecuted Christian families “lost everything” when a fire raged through a refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar city in southeastern Bangladesh, killing at least 15 people, Christian aid workers said Sunday.
Christian persecution in China: home Bible study raided, at least a dozen people detained
Authorities from the civil affairs bureau and police force in China’s Guizhou province raided a Protestant home Bible study Tuesday morning, reportedly detaining at least 12 people for questioning, Radio Free Asia reports. The Bible study was being attended by members of the Ren’ai Reformed Church, whose pastor Zhang Chulei was one of the first church leaders to sign the declaration of Christian faith initiated by jailed pastor Wang Yi.
Family, Friends ‘Celebrate Life’ Of Late Evangelist Luis Palau
An emotionally charged private memorial service was held Saturday, March 20, in honor of world-renowned evangelist Luis Palau. He passed away this month after losing his battle against lung cancer at age 86, leaving behind an evangelism legacy that impacted millions’ lives.
India Christian Couple Attacked Over Rituals Refusal
A Christian couple and their three children are reportedly homeless in India’s western Jharkhand state for refusing to abandon their in Christ and accept tribal rituals.
57 Black Leaders Warn Congress the ‘Equality Act’ Turns LGBT Rights Into ‘a Sword Against Faith Institutions’
A group of nearly 60 black Christian leaders is urging the U.S. Senate to reject the Equality Act recently passed by the House of Representatives and instead opt for a compromise bill that protects the rights of the LGBT community while also preserving the rights of religious believers and institutions.
Iran House Church Couple Facing Prison
Iranian Christians requested prayers Wednesday for Homayoun Zhaveh, 62, and his wife Sara Ahmadi, 42, as they were due to be summoned to prison for house church activities, Worthy News learned.
Saudi Arabia Prosecutes Christian Convert
A former Muslim who converted to Christianity in Saudi Arabia faces two court cases and threats of violence against him and his family, trial observers say.
Christian Women Suffering Increased Persecution
Christian women worldwide face the worst persecution and attacks in years, according to a new study obtained by Worthy News.